From the Editorial Board: What is Your Favorite Horse Movie?

FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD

What is Your Favorite Horse Movie?

by Editorial Board

We asked our Editorial Board to pick their all time favorite horse movies, and here are their responses. So get out the popcorn and Let’s Go to the Movies!

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story Sarah

When asked about my favorite “horsey” movie, many came to mind. With a closer look I realized this fabulous account of a broken racehorse and her family would top the list. In the movie, the Crane family brings the horse, Sonador, home to heal her and possibly help her run another race. Sonador, which means “Dreamer” in Spanish, has a huge heart and embraces the Crane family, especially Cale.

My favorite part about the movie is the way it shows how a horse can come into a family’s life, and then they help each other. Before the Cranes, Sonador was treated as another racehorse that didn’t mean anything other than money to her owners. When the Cranes adopted her, she stole their hearts as they stole hers. The way Cale connects with her reminds me of my horse and myself.

I would recommend this movie to everyone, old or young, horse lover or not. This story is about so much more than just an injured racehorse.

Secretariat Macie

One of my favorite horse movies is Secretariat. It is all about how a housewife hires a trainer and takes over her father’s stables. Nobody believes that Big Red (the nickname Secretariat goes by) can be a champ, but the horse proves them all wrong! This is a true story your whole family would love.

International Velvet Ezri

International Velvet is the inspiring sequel to the classic horse film National Velvet. It follows Sarah Brown as she loses her parents and goes to live with her aunt, Velvet Brown, in England.

Once there, Sarah discovers her love of horses. She later goes on to make the Olympic equestrian team and live up to her aunt’s legacy.

The movie is touching because of the ups and downs Sarah experiences while living with her aunt. For instance, boys tease Sarah for riding her horse so much, but she sticks to her passion for her horse and for riding. Any horse lover – or anyone — would love International Velvet.

Justin Morgan Had a Horse Noah

In this movie about the foundation sire of the Morgan breed, a beautiful horse represents “Figure”. The movie is pretty good but there are a few moments of pretty fake graphics. This movie was made quite a while ago so that may be the reason. There are lots of scenes with races and horses running through fields, which are nice, although in my opinion the book is better than the movie. But overall, with a one being horrible and ten being terrific, I would give this movie a seven.

Flicka Hallie & Mary

Flicka was chosen by Hallie and Mary as their favorite movie. This review is a combination of their impressions. Mary: Flicka is an inspirational movie about a girl, Katy McLaughlin, who finds a wild mustang while out riding on her family’s ranch. Despite the disapproval of her father Rob, Katy trains the wild mare and gives her the name Flicka. Hallie: One of my favorite parts is when Katie finds that Flicka is alive and healing after a mountain lion attacked her. M: The bond between Flicka and Katy is one that only a true equestrian has with her horse. H: If you really listen to the movie, it’s an inspiring story that teaches you that if you love something, you shouldn’t let it go. M: Flicka shows how far time, patience and hard work can take you. H: I especially recommend Flicka to any horse lover, or anyone who just likes to watch good movies.

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken Madison Sonora Webster is an average teenage foster girl who runs away from home to become the new “girl” in a horse high diving show. Soon after meeting Dr. Carter, the owner of the show, and his son Al, she becomes the horse-diver superstar. One day a performance leaves her blind. After her accident, Al forbids her to continue her diving, but Sonora proves to him that if you work hard enough you can overcome anything. Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken is based on a true story. I really like this movie.

Second Chances Ryenn

Based on a true story, Second Chances tells the tale of Sunny Matthews and her horse Ginger. After being in a serious car accident that leaves her fatherless and in a critical state with a broken leg, Sunny is on the edge of giving up. This is until she meets Mr. Ben Taylor, a rodeo star who lives next door with a beautiful ranch. Soon she finds herself fascinated with horses and especially a crazy mare named Ginger. Ginger is a rodeo horse recently retired after being injured in the ring. Sunny and Ginger both begin to show signs of improvement as they regain their strength together. But when Ben finds himself in a tough spot and has to sell Ginger, he agrees to sell her to Sunny only if she will get up and go in the paddock and get her. This is the turning point for Sunny’s second chance at life. I would recommend this movie to everyone, horse person or not. It shows how much hard work and dedication it takes to do anything, and that second chances are always waiting for you to find them!

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Both Emma and Lauren picked Spirit as their favorite horse movie. This review combines their thoughts on the movie. Lauren: To embrace my inner child, I’d have to say my favorite horse movie would be Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Emma: Spirit is a movie about a wild mustang and his herd. It is narrated by Spirit as he goes on a lifechanging journey. L: The trials and triumphs the young stallion, Spirit, goes through are remarkable and memorable. The movie shows how from the moment he was born he was a daring, special young colt. Nothing stands in his way as he takes over his herd, protecting them from harm in their homeland. The story takes a drastic turn when rustlers, a group of horse thieves, capture Spirit. They take him to a camp of soldiers, across the American frontier, and far away from his home. E: At the soldiers’ fort, Spirit’s training begins. Like all wild horses, Spirit doesn’t want to be tamed. While tied to a post at the fort, he meets a Native American trying to steal supplies. Eventually, the Native American escapes, and releases Spirit and the other horses. To Spirit’s surprise, he goes from one camp to another, at the Native American village. L: The Native American brave has a gorgeous paint mare named Rain. The three are a force to be reckoned with throughout the movie. Spirit goes on with his lifechanging journey, packed with action, love, drama, and unbelievable feats of inner and outer strength. E: The action continues for Spirit and his friends, and even though Spirit loves his new life, he knows he must find his way back to his herd. The closing scene has him saying goodbye and returning, with Rain at his side, to his herd. L: All the music was written by Hans Zimmer, an amazing composer, and Bryan Adams, an amazing artist. Some of the songs in the movie truly do make you tear up, especially ‘Sound the Bugle’. That song is the turning point in the movie where Spirit realizes that he cannot give up, no matter the costs. E: This movie really shows the trust between horse and rider. Their teamwork lets them overcome the evil that endangered them as they often fended for their lives. This is a role model for all who want to achieve balance with their horse.

The Long Shot Sammie

The Long Shot is a great movie! It shows how it is to have a bond with your horse. Annie, her daughter Taylor, and their horse Towlow, had emotional and physical challenges to overcome throughout this movie.

Annie’s leg was broken while she was training for a dressage event that she needed to win to save Towlow from being repossessed by the bank. Taylor had to overcome her distrust for her Mom and accept that she wasn’t the enemy Taylor had been led to believe. Taylor realizes her Mom had always been there for her, and always will. Towlow had to overcome the physical challenge of being blind in the dressage competition that Annie had to win for the prize money needed to keep Towlow.

Even though Annie had a broken leg and Towlow was blind, together they went on to win the competition. It was like he was her legs and she was his eyes. I give this movie five out of five stars!

Emma & Lauren